Chapter 413: The Beast in Chains
The cave breathed.
That was the first thought that crossed Lysandra's mind as she stepped deeper into the darkness. Each distant echo carried like the slow inhale and exhale of something vast and patient, something that had been waiting far longer than anyone should ever wait for anything.
Her boots scraped softly against stone slick with frost and mineral residue. The faint glow of runes carved into the cavern walls pulsed intermittently, casting molten-gold light across jagged stone and long shadows that crawled like living things along the floor.
Morven walked ahead of her, broad shoulders tense beneath his cloak, one hand resting near the hilt of his blade. Kairen lingered slightly behind, his nervous breathing too loud in the unnatural quiet.
And then Lysandra saw it.
The beast.
Her breath caught painfully in her throat.
